Good and bad info. My time in the garden this year was spotty at best. I had alot of "weed" issues, so to the point that the irises were getting starved out. I lost about 150 cultivars and another two hundred are doing VERY poorly. The majority are just ok, but they are not thriving. A small group is (the last bed made is doing FANTASTIC!)

The "Micro-clim" bed by the garage that was to be eliminated, go a reprieve from the wife (but I had already whacked/moved most of the bed). I put all of my picnic acquisitions there.

I am hoping to pot up a different garden with survivors and convert it to non-iris plants that require little/no maint. The "reprieve" of the garage garden did not stop the need to reduce my overall iris space. This garden was the one I chose to get rid of because I was have the most issue with it.

Good news?????

I have a five cultivars in bloom or about to bloom.

Over and Over is blooming now. It started 10/06/17.
Autumn Tryst is blooming now. It started 10/06/17.
Autumn Circus should bloom today!
Mariposa Autumn should bloom in the next few days.
Again and Again should bloom in a week or so.

Thanks for the well wishes and the offers for replacing. I agreed to lessen the load; in this situation I was unable to decide what to keep.

I am cutting out one long bed in the back yard (60ft) which I have had the worst results in keeping irises alive in. Too much rot, weeds, and an occasional dog "intervention". I also cut out another 30 feet this year and may do another 30 feet next year. These last two areas have shade issues and sometimes moss issues; so they are better suited for other low maint. type plants with mulch applications to knock down the weeds.

So, any offers for replacements are nice, but I need to see what survives the Winter and how much garden I can keep up with which is the main issue. I may have to get rid of more before I can entertain get replacements or new cultivars.

There is a possibility that my "Sterling Innerst" collection may have a formal home in the future. We (my two local Iris societies) are working with an organization that currently is hosting a large Rose collection and they seem to be a good fit for us/iris. This may take 5 years to pull off, but we have an opening to pursue it.

I have lost a fair amount of Sterling's stuff and depending on how this goes, I would be looking for replacements.

I have a couple beds that got away from me this year too, with the long wet periods we had, and other things competing for my time, I just couldn't keep up. I'm sure I will be loosing some of the older varieties in that area, but that's just how it's going to have to be. I will not be replacing them, but looking to use those openings for newer ones. I'd get the beds all weeded and preened, and we'd get a torrential down pour and wash all of the Preen away. Then 5 or 6 more days of rain, and the weeds were back as if they never were gone. I just gave my time priorities to the newer beds with the newer irises.

I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion. - Alexander the Great

tveguy3 said:I have a couple beds that got away from me this year too, with the long wet periods we had, and other things competing for my time, I just couldn't keep up......... I'd get the beds all weeded and preened, and we'd get a torrential down pour and wash all of the Preen away. Then 5 or 6 more days of rain, and the weeds were back as if they never were gone.......

This sounds like a duplicate problem down here too! It has rained every single week- sometimes a sprinkle; sometimes a gully washer! I couldn't keep up, and now it's raining again today!

I'm sure this has contributed to a lot of rot too.

Even a fool, when he shuts his mouth, is counted (as being) wise.Proverbs 17:28MY BLOG

Sorry to hear of all your losses. Mother Nature certainly has not been kind to iris growers this year. When you have time to take stock and decide what you plan to do in the spring, let me know if you would like any replacements from my garden. I have many Innerst iris and plenty of others from your garden!

It is currently a very bad week for new irises in my area. It has been lightly raining on and off since Saturday and will continue until next Tuesday, the humidity is about 90% and it is in the high 80's. This warm wet does not make for happy rhizomes. I am worried about my newly planted ones.

I too still have some Innerst from you Greg, if you need replacements. Lost a couple of yours over this summer, but most are doing fine.